Abetz slams Fair Work over report delay

The federal coalition has accused Fair Work Australia (FWA) of further incompetence for failing to produce a report into a Victorian branch of the Health Services Union (HSU) following an immediate request by a Senate committee.

FWA general manager Bernadette O'Neill revealed on Wednesday three former HSU officials will face Federal Court action and possible civil proceedings after an investigation into the union's Victoria No 1 branch.

The workplace watchdog began an inquiry into the finances of the branch, now known as HSU East, in January 2009, before a full investigation commenced in April 2010.

The investigation report found there had been 32 contraventions of Fair Work laws and union rules, including 27 contraventions, which could result in civil penalties.

Ms O'Neill also said on Wednesday she had been asked by the Senate estimates committee on education, employment and workplace relations legislation for a copy of the report and would produce it.

The senate committee confirmed it had asked for the report to be provided on Thursday morning via electronic means.

But by 1800 AEDT on Thursday, it had not been received, Opposition workplace relations spokesman Eric Abetz told reporters.

Senator Abetz said in these modern days of quick communications there was no reason why the report shouldn't already be with the committee.

He questioned the delay, asking if it was another case of administrative incompetence by FWA, which has already announced an independent inquiry into the longevity of its investigation into the No 1 branch and another investigation into the national union, involving Labor MP Craig Thomson.

"There is another alternative and that is that Fair Work Australia may have made the report available to the minister's office for tabling," Senator Abetz told reporters in Canberra.

A spokesman for Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten said the suggestion was "absolutely wrong" and the report had not been received by the minister's office.

However, FWA later told AAP the report been sent to the minister's department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

But a spokesman for the department told AAP the report had not been received.

Victorian Liberal senator Michael Ronaldson also expressed concerns about the delay in getting the report to the committee.

"This does not pass the political sniff test," Senator Ronaldson told reporters.

"They need to get on with it."

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott earlier on Thursday questioned why it has taken so long for FWA to investigate the issues around the HSU.

"On the known facts of this case, it looks like an open and shut case of criminal misappropriation of money," Mr Abbott told reporters in Canberra.

"Now, why it has taken so long to investigate this? Why has it taken so long to provide justice to the members of the Health Services Union to demonstrate that the law applies to everyone, even powerful trade union officials? Well, that is a question that the government must answer."